Valve-operating mechanism



- March 17, 1925. 1,530,049

G. C. HUNT VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM File 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Mesh 17, 1925. 1,530,049

' G. c. HUNT VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Novpzj, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet :2

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A TTORNEY March 17, 1925. 1,530,049

G. C. HUNT VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 25, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

BY v W Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. HUNT, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SAVUTIME DEVICES,

- INCQ, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed November 23, 1922. Serial No. 602,918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Valve-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for controlling from a distance the passage of gas and more particularly to an electrically operated device adapted for use in connection with hot water heaters, an object of the invention being to provide a mechanisnrwhich may be used with heaters of a type now commonly employed and without the necessity of in. any way altering the construction or operation of the heater.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described operable from one or more places at a distance to turn thegas on'or OE and, by means of a thermostatic connection to turn the gas oil when a predetermined amount of water has been heated to a degree sufficient to cause the thermostat to function.

Another object of the invention is to employ a spring motor as the actuating means for turning a rotary gas valve alternately on and off, and to make provision for stopping the motor against further operation before it has completely run down so as to prevent a partial turning on of the gas. This is accomplished by a rotary locking member intermittently operated through connection with the valve turning shaft, and

it. is a further object of the invention to reset this member in the operation of rewinding the motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable brake for stopping the motor substantially at the same time that each complete movement of the valve is effected, and to release the brake on the motor the instant the circuit is closedto permit actuation of the valve operating member.

A still further object of the invention is, through the employment of a visual indicating means, to prevent locking of the motor against unwindin And, a still further oiject of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character and for the purpose described that will be of simple and inexpensive constructionypositive in operation, not liableto get the several views.

out of order, and which may be readily installed in connection with a hot water heater employing a rotary valve in the gas supp y P P To these and other ends the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts as will be fully set forth in the following description and particularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrating the invention are as follows Figure 1 shows in side elevation a hot water tank, a gas heater, the piping between the two, and my improved device for controlling the passage of gas to the heater.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the electrical connections.

Fig. 3 shows the device in end elevation, the cover being removed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical .sectionaltview on the line H, Fig.- 10.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the motor locking wheel in operative position.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the parts seen in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the valve turning member and the stop mechanism as disengaged therefrom.

Fig. 8 is a detail View showing the visual indicating means in the position it occupies when the winding and resetting mechanisms are in position to lock the motor against operation.

Fig. 9'is a vertical sectional vieweon the line 99, Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the device set up and connected to a fuel controlling valve.

Fig. 11 is a detail of construction to be explained.

And, Fig. 12 is a detail view of'the brake for the motor.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout The numerals 1 and 2 represent springs of a double spring motor of well known construction, the spring 1 being contained within a cylindrical housing 3 and the spring 2 within a similar housing 4, the housing 3 turning clockwise when winding the springs, the housing 4: remaining stationary, while the'housing 4 turns in a like direction when the springs unwind, with the housing 3 remaining stationary. This motor is mounted in end pieces 5 and 6 of a supporting frame which pieces are con nected by side bars 7, the latter, in this instance, being formed integrally with the frame piece 6 and secured to the frame piece 5 by bolts8.

A crank 9 is employed for winding the motor, this crank being removably secured to a shaft 10 on which is fixed a spiral gear 11 meshing with a spiral gear 12 on the motor shaft 13, a spring pawl 14 pivoted at 15 engaging a ratchet wheel 16 on the shaft 10 to permit such shaft being turned in one direction only.

The spring housing 4, which rotates clockwise when the motor unwinds, carries a gear wheel 17 which drives a pinion 18 fixed to a shaft 19, such shaft also having secured thereon a spiral wheel 20 which in turn meshes with a spiral pinion 21 fixed to a shaft 22, this latter shaft carrying a worm wheel 23 which drives a worm 24 on a transversely extending shaft 25 mounted, in bearings 26 in the side bars 7 of the frame. The motor mechanism per se, as thus far described, is old in the art and is not claimed as a part of this invention.

Extending co-axially with the motor shaft is a square shaft 27 having a cylindrical shouldered portion 28 turning in the frame member 6 and formed with a flanged head 29 which is secured to the outer face of the gear wheel 17 and mounted on the squared portion of the shaft is a disk 30 formed, in this instance,"with four regularly spaced peripheral notches v31, a wall of each notch extending radially. These radial faces of the notches are successively engaged by a detent 32 and it will thus be seen that the disk is stopped at each quarter revolution.

The detent '32 is carried by a sleeve 33 having a limited movement, by means of a pin-and-slot connection 34, on a rod 35, such a movement being against the action of a coiled spring 36 and the spring being under tension when the detent is in operative position so that as the detent is disengaged from the wall I of a notch 31 it will be drawn slightly in rear of the notch, see Fig. 7, in order to prevent accidental engagement in the notch before the motor starts rotation of 'the disk. The rod is the armature of an electro-magnet 39 and has its inner end pivoted at 37 to the frame member 6 while its outer end is formed with an armature plate 38. Thus it will be seen that energizing the magnet 36 attracts the armature and causes the detent 32 to move out of engagement with the wall of a notch 31 and in this mannerpermitting the disk 30 to rotate under action of the spring motor, this movement of the disk being limited to a one quarter revolution as the armature arm 35, providing the circuit through the magnet has been broken,

drops by gravity so that the detent engages in the succeeding notch.

In order to stop the motor at each quarter rotation of the disk 30, and thus relieve strain on the parts and also prevent an accidental relative movement of the detent beyond a notch 31, any suitable braking device may be provided. In this instance, I make use of a brake wheel 40 of fibrous material secured to the worm shaft 25 and co-operating with this wheel is a brake shoe 41 preferably of fibrous material. means of any suitable clamp, is secured to the under face of an arm 42 pivoted at one end at 43 to the frame piece 5, its other end being bent downwardly at 44 and pivotally connected by means of a screw 45 to an upstanding projection 46 v on the armature sleeve 33, the screw being adjustable vertically in the projection 46 to permit adjustment of the brake, and the pivotal connection 37 allowing a slight lateral movement of the brake arm to compensate for the movement of the sleeve 33 due to the action of the spring 36.

It is necessary to prevent the spring motor from running down to a point where it would fail to effect a quarter rotation of the notched disk 30. To this end, then, I provide the disk wheel with a tooth 47 adapted on each complete rotation of the disk to engage successively the peripheral teeth on a wheel 48 mounted to turn on a stud 49, but frictionally held against free rotation by means of the friction spring 50 bearing against a face of the wheel. This wheel is thus given an intermittent or step-by-step movement and is advanced one step or tooth for every two turnings on and off of the gas, or for every complete rotation of the disk 30, the rotation of the wheel being effected until the blank surface 51 is engaged This shoe, by

by the tooth 47, whereupon the wheel 48 acts" as a locking means for preventing further operation of the motor, this occurring, as hereinbefore stated, while there is yet power inthe motor. 7

At this time it is necessary to rewind the motor, means being provided for resetting the locking wheel 48 during the rewinding operation. To efi'ect this resetting of the locking wheel, the housing 3 for the spring 1 is provided with a tooth or projection 52 which, on each rotation of the housing, engages a tooth of a star wheel 53 fixed to a shaft 54 rotatably supported in the frame members 5 and 6 but yieldingly held against free rotation by means of a flexible detent 55 which engages the stag/wheel 53. Also fixed to the shaft 54 is a'pfiiion 56 having a like number of teeth as the wheel 52, this pinion meshing with the toothed wheel 48 and effecting a step-by-step return movement of the wheel until the blank surface 51 assumes approximately the position shown in'Fig. 3, a few teeth on the wheel being left between the blank surface and the pinion 56 as a margin of safety in the event of the motor being Wound to its extreme tightness.

Should a person stop winding the motor when the tooth 52 is engaging the star wheel 53 the motor would be locked against unwinding, and to avoid this possibility I provide a visual indication in the form of a signal plate 57 which drops before an aperture 58 in the cover 59 when the tooth and star wheel are in engagement. In this instance, the signal plate is mounted on one end of a wire (3 pivoted intermediate its ends at 61 and having its other end engaged by a projection 62 on the spring housing 3. Thus, each rotation of the housing effects a movement of the signal member coincident with the engagement of the tooth 52 and star wheel, a spring 63 acting to return the signal to its inoperative position when the lug 62 passes out of engagement with the signal arm.

The frame members are supported upon blocks 64 above the bottom wall of a box 65, while the screws 8 project through openings therefor in an end wall of the box and receive nuts 66 whereby the frame is rigidly secured to the box, the removable cover 59.

forming three sides of the box. This box rests upon any suitable vertically adjustable standard 67 which properly positions the device as to height relatively to the valve to be operated, and secured to the box are straps 68 adapted to engage about the hot water tank 69 and be clamped thereto by means of bolts 70.

Slidable on the squared end of the shaft 27 is a sleeve 71 which has a set screw 72 for lockingit in proper position of adjustment and a channeled head or key 7 3 for engaging the winged thumb piece of a rotary valve 74 located in the fuel supply pipe 7 5 for the heater 7 6, this valve being of the type whereby a quarter turn of the thumb piece opens the valve and a further quarter turn closes it. It will of course be understood that a burner is provided in the heater and the gas at the burner is ignited by a pilot light which receives gas through a by-pass connection 77.

Operation of the device to either turn the gas on or off is controlled from a distance such, for instance, as having one or more push buttons 7 8 conveniently located in the upstairs of a dwelling when the heater is located in the cellar. I Pressing a button 78 closes a circuit from the battery 79 through the electro-magnet 39 which, when ener- ,gized, actuates the detent 32 to permit the motor to turn the gas on or ofl'accordingly as the valve on starting of the motor was closed or open.

As a factor of safety, inthe event that a person fails to turn off the gas after a predetermined amountof water has been heated. I provide means for autoi'natically closing a circuit through the electro-magnet 39. this means being a thermostat which may be of any preferred construction and located ad- ]acent the tank 69, the position of the thermostat longitudinally of the tank determining the amount of water to be heated before automatic shut off of the gas is etfected,- that is, if the thermostat is positioned near the top of the tank, but a small quantity of water will be heated, and the farther it is moved from the top the greater will be the quantity of hot water.

This thermostat, in the present instance, is mounted in a casing 80 adjustably supported in any suitable manner on "a rod 81 extending longitudinally of the tan'k69, and f comprises two wires 82 and 83, the free ends of which,- when the wires are heated, move relatively toward each other to make electrical contact at 84 and close a circuit through the magnet 39, thus permittingoperation of the motor to turn off the gas. In order to establish this circuit, one end of the coil 39 is grounded on the machine at 85 and one wire from the thermostat is connected to an insulated spring contact member 86 mounted on the frame piece 6 and which makes con-' tact with one or the otherof a pair of pins 87 on the disk 30, while the other wire from the thermostat leads to the battery. These pins 87 are arranged diametrically opposite each other so that contact with the member 86 is always made when the valve is open but ouly-at such times, thus preventing the ther mostat from causing energizing of the elec-i tro-magnet when the valve is closed.

From the foregoing it will be seen thatI have provided a simple but positively operable attachment for hot water heaters such as are now in common use whereby the gas supply to the heater burner may be turned on or off from a distance through the closing of an electric circuit. And. it will also be understood that in employing a spring motor as the means for turning the valve provision is made for the POSltlXG operation of the motor whenever the electric circuit is closed, the locking of the motor against further operation before it has completely run down and at a time when the gas is turned off, and for the resetting. of the locking mechanism by the rewinding of the motor.

I also provide a signal lamp 88 in the electric circuit and located preferably adjacent the push button 78, this lamp remaining lighted while the valve 74 is open.

Vhat I claim is 1. The combination with a fuel supply pipe and a rotary valve in said pipe, of a motor for rotating the valve in onedirection to alternately open and close the valve, au-

tomatically operable mechanism for stopping the motor after each operative movement of the valve, and electrically operable means for releasing said stopping mechanism.

2. The combination with a fuel supply pipe and a rotary valve in said pipe, of a motor for rotating the valve in one direction to alternately open and close the valve, automatically operable mechanism for stopping the motor after each operative movement of the valve, the said stopping mechanism including a brake for the motor, and electrically operable means for releasing said stopping mechanism.

3. The combination with a fuel supply pipe and a rotary valve in said pipe, of a motor for rotating the valve in one direction to alternately open and close the valve, mechanism actuated by gravity to effect a stopping of the motor after each operative movement of the valve, and electrically operable means for releasing the stopping mechanism to permit furthermoyen'icnt of the valve.

4. The combination with afuel' supply pipe and a rotary valve in said pipe, of a motor for rotating the valve in one direction to alternately open and close the valve, automatically operable mechanism for stopping 'the motor after each operative movement of the valve, electrically operable means for releasing said stopping mechanism, intermittently movable mechanism for locking the motor against further movement after a predetermined number of turnings of the valve, and means actuated by rewindingthe motor to reset the said locking means.

5. The combination with a fuel supply pipe and a rotary valve in said pipe, of a motor for rotating the valve in one direction to alternately open and close the valve, automatically operable mechanism for stopping the motor after each operative movement of the valve, electrically operable means for releasing said stopping mechanism, and a thermostat in circuit to actuate said electrically operable means. 7 i

'6. A rotary valve, a shaft for turning the valve in one direction, a plurality of regularly spaced engaging means circumferentially arranged on the shaft, a motor for, driving the shaft, an electromagnet, an armature, a detent carried by said armature, said detent co-operating with said engaging means to stop rotation of the shaft and movable by said armature to inoperative position when the magnet is energized, and a brake for the motor controlled the armature.

7. A rotary yalve, a shaft for turning the valve in one direction, a plurality of regularly spaced engaging means circumferentially arranged on the shaft, a motor for driving the shaft, an electro-magnet, an armature, a detent carried by the armature, said detent co-operating with said engaging means to stop rotation of the shaft and movable by said armature to inoperative position when the magnet is energized, and

a mechanism having a step-by-step move ment and moved one step by said \shaft on each rotation of the shaft, such mechanism effecting a locking of the shaft'after a predeterminednumber of turnings of the valve.

8. A rotary valve, ,a' shaft for turning the valve in one direction, a plurality of regularly spaced engaging means circumferentially arranged on the shaft, a motor for driving the shaft, an electro-magnet, an armature, a detent carried by the armature, said detent co-operating with said engaging means to stop rotation of the shaft and movable by said armature to inoperative position when the magnet is energized, a mechanism having a stepby-step movement and moved one step by said shaft on each rotation of the shaft, such mechanism effecting a locking of the shaft against further rotation after a predetermined number of turnings of the valve, and means actuated on winding the motor to reset the said shaft locking means.

9. In a valve operating mechanism, a shaft, a motor for driving the shaft, a disk rotatable with the shaft and formed with a plurality of regularly spaced peripheral notches, a detent movable successively into said notches to stop rotation of the shaft, an electro-magnet, an armature for effecting disengagement of the detent from said notched Wheel, means acuated by said shaft for locking the same against rotation after a predetermined number of turnings of the shaft, and means for resetting the said locking means.

10. In a Valve operating mechanism, a shaft, a motor for driving the shaft, a disk rotatable with the shaft and formed with a plurality of regularly spaced peripheral notches, a detent movable successively into said notches to stop rotation of the shaft,

llU

an electro-magnet, an armature for effecting disengagement of the detent from said notched wheel, means actuated by said shaft for locking the same against rotation after a predetermined number of turnings of the shaft, means for resetting the said locking means, and a brake for the motor controlled by the operation of said detent. 11.- In a valve operating mechanism, a shaft, a spring motor for driving the shaft,- a notched wheel fixed to the shaft, an elec tro-magnet, a pivotally supported armature, a detent carried by the armature and movablethereby so as to co-operate with the notched wheel to control the movement thereof, and a brake for the motor controlled by the movement of the armature.

12. In a valve operating mechanism, a' shaft, a spring-motor fordriving the shaft, a notched wheel fixed to the shaft, anelectromagnet, a pivotally supported armature, a spring actuated member longitudinally movable on the armature, and a projection on said member adapted to successively engage in said notches to stop rotation of the wheel and on each such engagement to be moyed slightly against the action of said spring.

18. In a valve operating mechanism, a shaft, a spring motor for driving the shaft, a wheel turning with said shaft, an electromagnet, a pivotally supported armature, means carried by the armature to effect stopping ofsaid wheel, movement of the armature toward the magnet releasing said stopping means, a second shaft driven by the motor, a brake wheel on said shaft, a pivotally supported arm, a brake shoe carried by said arm forengaging the brake wheel, and connectionvbetween said arm and the armature whereby movement of the armature controls operation. of the brake.

14. In a valve operating mechanism, a shaft, a spring motor for driving the shaft, a wheel turning with the shaft, an electromagnet, a pivotally supported armature, means carried by the armature to effect stopping of the wheel, movement of the armature toward the magnetreleasing said stopping means, a second shaft driven by the motor, a brake wheel on said shaft, a pivotally supported arm, a brake shoe carried by the arm for engaging the brake wheel, and an adjustable connection between said arm and the armature whereby movement of the armature controls operation of the brake, the armature-moving by gravity to bring the wheel stopping means into operative position.

15. In a valve operating mechanism, a spring motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a locking wheel, a member rotatable with the shaft for effecting a regular intermittent rotation of said wheel, and means on said Wheel adapted to be engaged by said wheel engaging member after a predetermined number of turnings of the shaft to lock the shaft against further rotation.

16. In a valve operating mechanism, a spring motor, a shaft driven by the motor,

a wheel carried by the shaft, co-operating means engaging said wheel to stop rotation thereof at regular intervals of travel, a toothed wheel, a projection carried by the shaft wheel for successively engaging the teeth of said toothed wheel, and a portion on said toothed wheel adapted to be engaged by said operating projection whereby further rotation of the shaft is arrested.

17. In a valve operating mechanism, a spring motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a wheel carried by the shaft, co-operating means engaging said wheel'to stop rotation thereof at regular intervals of travel, a toothed wheel, a projection carried by the shaft wheel for successively engaging the teeth of said toothed Wheel, a part on said toothed wheel adapted to be engaged by said operating projection whereby further rotation of the shaft is arrested, and means actuated on rewinding the motor to resetthe said toothed wheel.

18. In a valve operating mechanism, a spring motor, a shaft driven by the motor,

'a wheel carried by the shaft, co-operating means engaging said Wheel to stop rotation thereof at regular intervals of travel, a toothed wheel, a projection carried by the shaft wheel for successively engaging the teeth of said toothed wheel, a part on said toothed wheel adapted to be engaged by said operating projection whereby further rotation of the shaft is arrested after a predetermined number of turnings thereof, a second shaft, means movable on winding the motor for effecting rotation of such shaft, and a pinion on such second named shaft meshing with said toothed wheel, said pinion operating to reset the toothed wheel.

19. In a Valve operating mechanism, a spring motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a wheel carried by the shaft, co-operating means engaging said wheel to stop rotation thereof at regular intervals of travel, a toothed wheel, a projection carried by the shaft wheel for successively engaging, the teeth of said toothed wheel, a part on said toothed wheel adapted to be engaged by said operating projection whereby further rotation of the shaft is arrested after a predetermined number of turnings thereof, a second shaft, means movable on winding the motor for effecting intermittent rotation of such shaft, a 'pinion on such second named shaft meshing with said toothed wheel, said pmion operating to reset the toothed wheel, and a visual indicator actuated when the said second shaft is engaged by the said turning means thereof.

- GEORGE O. HUNT. 

